Pasta with Tomato and Mozzarella

Once you have made your fresh tomato sauce – a stage that can be done a day or two ahead – then this is a delightfully easy dish to make for lunch or supper. A green salad is a good partner, though if you are pursuing the low-fat option remember to go easy on the salad dressing.

Serves 2-3

This recipe is taken from Delia’s Vegetarian Collection.

Ingredients

12 oz (350 g) penne rigate

1 quantity Classic Fresh Tomato Sauce (see related recipe below)

5 oz (150 g) low-fat Mozzarella, chopped into ¾ inch (2 cm) cubes

a few whole basil leaves, to garnish

Equipment

Method

When you are almost ready to eat, stir the cubes of Mozzarella into the warm sauce and let it simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, by which time the cheese will have softened and begun to melt but still retain its identity.

Serve the sauce spooned over the drained pasta, sprinkled with the Parmesan (as in the Classic Fresh Tomato Sauce recipe) and add a few fresh basil leaves as a garnish.